Dry ice converter



May 11, 1937. P; c. M ABEE I 2,079,769

" 1 DRY ICE CONVERTER Filed July 27, 1935 M 6 W Z8 Z6 m. 5;"

Ii 11 a1 11 -1 z 1? 1 E W MM i W 5 D 15 INVENTOR i 55 Faul 6. Mr flbee ATTO RN EYS Patented May 11, 1937 UNITEDYSTATES 2,079,769 I DRY 1C1: CONVERTER Paul 0. Mclabee, New York, s. Y. Application J uly 27 1933, SerialNo. 682,404

""zclanns. (Cl. zed-3) This invention relates to containers for converting a solid into a liquid or a gas and more particularly to containers for converting solid carbon dioxide into liquid or gaseous form.

Containers heretofore used in connection with carbon dioxide have generally fallen into two classes. I closed at one end and is drawn atthe other'end to a small neck; and liquefied carbon dioxide is charged through this neck into the container, In containers of the second class'there isjlittle or no reduction in section at the open endin or'jder that solid blocks of carbon dioxide may be charged into the cylinder; and accordingly asizable cap must be fastenedupon this openingto closethe container. With containers of the first class i t is practically impossible toemploy carbon dioxide in the solid form and liquid carbon dioxide, which is more expensive, must be us'ed.- Containers of the second class require special provision for taking care of the exceedingly; high pressures on the cap or closure because of the large area presented by the cap to thepressurewithin'the container. According to the present invention the end of the container is reduced to a neck of sufflcient size to permit insertion of suitable particlesofsolid carbon dioxide but of sufficiently small sizeto prevent great pressures upon the closure. g T

Ihe invention also consists in certain 'newnnd original featuresofconstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed Althoughthe novel features which areb elieved to be characteristic of this invention-gwill be pal ticula'rly pointed out in the claims appended lierc-' to, the invention itself, as"to it's objects and advantages, and the manner in which it may be car ried out, may be betterundeistood, by referring to thefollowing description taken inconncction with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, in which a a j i i Figure 1 is an elevation of a container constructed in accordance with theinvention. the

, III-III ofFi gure 2.

lower part of the container being shown in section,

' Figure 2-is a partial vertical section through the container illustrated in Figure 1. and,

Figure 3 is a horizontal section on :the line In the following description and claims various details'will be identified by specific names for:

convenience, but they are intended to be as generic in their application as the art wiil permit.

Like reference characters denote like partsin the several figures of the drawing.

In the drawing accompanying and forming part of this specification, certain specific disclosure or In one class. a solid forged" container is the flange. 1

PATENT orr es the :inventionis made for purposes of explanation,

but it wiilbe understood that the details may be i mo'difled'in various respects without departure from the broad aspect of the invention.

Referring now'more particularly to the drawing, it will be seen that it shows a container Hl'having a shoulder H at one end and an opening 12 in the shouldered end. i The opening I2 is; of

suflicient size to permifiinsei'tion of solid particles of: the material to be converted, for instance, carbon dioxide.

The container may be a forged cylinder, with a closed end l3, the cylinder being formed in the usual way, except for the construction at the opening 12. In other words, the cylinder maybe constructed in substantially the samemanner and have substantially the same dimensions as an ordinary liquid carbon dioxide flask. For example, an

I in'g'or othe'r dimensions so long as the stated purf pose'is realized. mower that the-opening 12 in the'cylinder maybe conveniently closed. it is preferred to extend the material of which the cylinder] is formed into an integral nipple I4, which'is exter nallythreaclcd as at l5. Anexternal annular con-;

traction I6 is formed at the outer end ofthe nipple i4 beyond the threads; for a purpose which will laierbe described.

7 An'internally threadedflange l'l is provided, the threads l8 thereon being of a size to permit screw- ;ing thefiange ll upon the nipple l4. An interior annular contraction I9 is formed" beyond the threads l8 on the flange l1 contiguous with the face Elliot the-flange. When the flange I1 is i screwed upon the nipple M, the annular contractio'nlg thereof registers with the annular contraction i6 onthenipple l4, thereby providing an outer annular groove 21 on the container.

In addition tobcing screwed onto the threads in the nipple M, the flange I1 maybe shrunk onto the nipple. The flange H is providedwitn bolt. holes 22, which as here 'showncomprise recesses-extending rad ialiy toward the centcrof A'cap'or cover 23 is' provided for closing the opening l2 at the end of the nipple l4. This cap has bolt boles 24 therein which are register-able nearest the flange l1, this annular projection being of a size to fit into the annular groove 2|. A ring-shaped gasket 28 is formed to fit into the annular groove 2|, so that when the nuts 26 are tightened on the bolts and the cap 23 is drawn toward the flange II, the annular projection 21 will bear upon the gasket 28 forming a gas seal for the opening l2 at the end of the container.

While the nipple l4 may be made of suflicient length to provide a suitable area for tapping openings therein for the insertion of all outlets to the container, it is preferred to position only one outlet in the nipple l4, that is to say, a pipe 29 which may be connected to a gauge or safety valve (not shown). An opening 30 may be tapped in the shouldered end of the container into which a pipe 3| may be screwed for withdrawing gas from the upper part of the container. Furthermore, a second opening 32 may be tapped in the lower part or closed end 13 of the container for withdrawing liquid from .the container. As here shown the opening 32 is closed by a plug 33 having a kerf therein for screwing the plug into or outof the container wall.

In order to use the container, the standard cake of the solid, for instance carbon dioxide, is broken up with a hammer or in any other convenient manner, into pieces which will pass through the opening l2 in the container. These pieces "are then placed in the container, a funnel being inserted in the nipple end to facilitate the operation if necessary.

The size and capacity of the container being known and the size of the standard block, which is broken up, also being known, the proper amount of solid can easily be charged into the container.

When the temperature of the solid pieces is raised within the container by absorption of heat from theatmosphere, the phase of the solid will be changed and where carbon dioxide is being used, both a liquid and a gas will be formed in the container. Obviously the liquid willqccupy the .lower endof the container, whereas the gas will fill the upper end. The liquid and the gas may be withdrawn from the container for use through the means already described. Clearly it'will be possible to extend the pipe 3| to the lower part of the container and siphon liquid off through this pipe in a manner too well known to require illustration.

A container formed in accordance with the invention hasmarked advantages over other containers now known in the art, in that solid material such as carbon dioxide may be broken up and charged into the container with ease, while all of the advantages of small opening may be realized. It is not necessary to place an entire block of commercial carbon dioxide in this container nor need the end of the container be of suflicient size to, permit passage of the quarter block now commonly placed in such containers. On the other hand the opening is not of the small size which requires that the more expensive liquid carbon dioxide be charged into the. container.

, Furthermore it will be apparent that the converter comprehended by the invention may be made having all the desirable features of a standard liquid carbon dioxide cylinder. In addition I provide an opening sufllciently large for easy insertion of crystallized or solid carbon dioxide which may be closed by gas tight fittings wlthout appreciable reduction in the safety factor.

Moreover, the additional features can be had at very small expense as the cylinder may be drawn from solid material in the usual manner and'the regular patterns, forms, dies, hammers and other equipment now used in the manufacture of ordinary types of cylinders may be utilized.

The dome top of the cylinder may be drawn originally to a size having an opening suificiently large for insertion of solid carbon dioxide or it may be drawn in the manner ordinarily followed in making the standard liquid carbon dioxide cylinder and then the opening enlarged. In either case my novel fittings may be adapted and are of such design as to add materially to the strength of the converter at those places where rupture may otherwise be expected.

Having made available such a converter the excessive costs entailed in transportation of heavy steel cylinders, as is commonly necessary where liquid carbon dioxide only is used, may be avoided.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A container for converting a solid into a liquid or a gas comprising a forgedcylinder having a shoulder at one end thereof, an externally threaded nipple in integral continuation of the shoulder having an external annular contraction at its outer end, an internallythreaded flange screwed on said nipple, said flange having bolt hoiestherein, said flange-also having an interior annular contraction contiguous with one face thereof to register with the contraction in said nipple when said flange is screwed thereon, and a cap having bolt holes therein registerable with the bolt holes in said flange, said cap serving to close the outer end of said nipple, in combination with an annular projection on one face of said cap, constructed and arranged to fit into the annular space provided by the contraction on said nipple and the contraction on said flange, and a gasket in the annular space formed by the contractions on said nipple and said flange, against which said projection bears to form a gas seal.

2..A carbon dioxide converter comprising a forged cylinder having a .reduced end merging into a.nipple formed with external threads and having an opening communicating with the interior of the cylinder, a collar formed with internal threads and screwed onto said nipple, adjacent portions of said nipple and collar defining an annular recess adjacent the end of said threads, an annular washer seated in said recess, a cap, means for securing said capin position closing said nipple, and an annular projection formed on said cap and entering said recess to compress said washer against the sides of said recess for sealing the joint between said cap and said cylinder.

PAUL C. McABEE. 

